We compared the automated Paragon 2000 clinical capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) system with two manual methods, agarose electrophoresis (AGE) and cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE). Reference intervals in healthy adults were determined for each method. When compared with AGE and CAE, CZE gave substantially higher reference values for the alpha1-globulin fraction. With CZE, within-run ...

Saliva started for been less studied than other body fluids, but in the last years it has being receiving an increased attention. Until now, more than 2000 different proteins and peptides have been identified in whole saliva and salivary glandular secretions [1]. From these, more than 90% derive from the secretion of the three pairs of “major” salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and subling...

A 23-year-old female presented with progressive low back pain for several weeks. She had been diagnosed with dermatomyositis at the age of 3 and received corticosteroids episodically for 5 years until her rheumatologic condition achieved complete remission. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a T2 bright lesion (panel A) at multiple levels without evidence of cord compression. Labora...

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus and Tachypleus tridentatus) possess a proteolytic blood coagulation system within their amebocytes that, after release and endotoxin activation, generates a polymerized insoluble coagulin clot. Clotting enzyme from horseshoe crab amebocyte lysate is the protease that activates the clottable protein (coagulogen) which then forms the coagulin clot. Comparison o...